Having a strong affinity for art, Kay Gasei, a multimedia artist, achieved remarkable feats within a span of less than two years. Notably, in 2021. Securing the prestigious Kate Bryan Soho House Award at The Other Art Fair and successfully completing a residency at Soho.Home.Studio, Kay participated in an impressive count of twenty art exhibitions.
How do you get your thoughts down to these pieces of art?
I like to reference different thoughts. I like the idea of ambiguity - like if you saw something and you don’t know what it was, you just stare and come up with something that is individual to each.
Before you can style your white sneakers, you first need to understand what styles you’ve got, (or what ones you need), and the types of outfits they best pair with.
Looking for some inspiration on the best outfits to wear with white sneakers? We’ve got you covered below!
For men, white sneakers offer endless possibilities when it comes to styling. Here are some of the best outfit ideas to pair with your men’s white vegan sneakers:
Men’s Cool and Casual Outfit
Opt for a classic combination of slim-fit jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and a denim or leather jacket. This look is perfect for a laid-back day or a casual night out.
Men’s Sporty Chic Outfit
Team your white sneakers with tailored joggers or track pants, along with a sweatshirt or a fitted hoodie. This ensemble strikes the perfect balance between comfort and style.
Men’s Smart Casual and Charming Outfit
Pair your white sneakers with chinos or tailored trousers, along with a crisp button-down shirt or a polo shirt. This outfit is ideal for semi-formal occasions or a dressier day at the office.
Ladies, white sneakers can effortlessly elevate your fashion game while providing comfort throughout the day. Consider these outfit ideas to complement your women’s white vegan sneakers:
Women’s Effortlessly Chic Outfit
Pair your white sneakers with high-waisted jeans, a loose-fitting blouse, or a striped t-shirt. Add some delicate jewellery and oversized sunglasses for a touch of sophistication.
Women’s Feminine and Flowy Outfit
Team your white sneakers with a floral or maxi dress for a relaxed yet stylish look. Layer it with denim or a leather jacket for those cooler days.
Women’s Athleisure Style Outfit
Combine your white sneakers with leggings, joggers, a cropped hoodie, or a graphic t-shirt. This ensemble is perfect for running errands or hitting the gym in style.
White sneakers are incredibly versatile, making them suitable for various occasions and outfits. Here are some general tips on what to wear with white sneakers:
White sneakers pair exceptionally well with jeans, whether it's skinny, straight-leg, or boyfriend style. Experiment with different washes and cuts to create diverse looks.
Embrace a minimalist aesthetic by pairing your white sneakers with neutral-colored outfits. Earthy tones like beige, camel, or grey can create a sophisticated and contemporary vibe.
Don't be afraid to mix your white sneakers with bold prints or patterns. Florals, stripes, or even animal prints can add an exciting element to your overall look.
While white sneakers are undoubtedly versatile, there are a few situations where it's best to avoid wearing them:
White sneakers can easily get dirty and stained when exposed to rain or muddy conditions. Opt for a more weather-resistant option during wet weather.
White sneakers may not be appropriate for formal occasions such as weddings or business meetings. It's better to opt for dress shoes or more polished footwear in these situations.
To keep your white sneakers looking fresh and clean, follow these tips:
Keeping your sneakers clean starts before you even put them on! Using a protective shoe spray on your white sneakers will help to repel liquids, mud, dirt, and spills effectively.
Additionally, since it acts as a protective barrier, it will also ward off stains caused by water, alcohol, and oils.
Wipe your sneakers with a damp cloth to remove dirt and grime after each wear. This simple step can go a long way in preserving their pristine appearance.
You can even use our sneaker cleaner kit, which is eco-friendly and suitable for our white vegan sneakers.
For tougher stains, create a solution of mild soap and warm water. Use a soft brush or toothbrush to scrub the stained areas gently. Avoid submerging the sneakers in water entirely.
Check the care instructions of your sneakers before attempting to wash them in a machine. If permitted, use a gentle cycle with mild detergent and place them inside a laundry bag for protection.
Air dry your sneakers naturally, avoiding direct sunlight or heat sources that may cause discoloration or damage. Stuff them with newspaper or paper towels to maintain their shape.
With these tips, you can confidently incorporate white sneakers into your wardrobe, creating stylish and versatile looks while keeping them clean and fresh. Embrace the versatility of white sneakers and enjoy the comfort and fashion-forward flair they bring to your outfits.
Long gone are the days when only heels, sandals or flats were acceptable to wear with dresses. Now, we can keep it cool and casual with shoes. Effortlessly stylish shoes and dresses are the perfect everyday look all year round.
But, if you’re new to this modern style and unsure of how to wear shoes with dresses, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered right here.
What Shoes should you wear with Summer Dresses?
Shoes and jeans or shoes and shorts have always been a go-to outfit for the summer as it’s generally easy to style and doesn't need much thought. Throw on your favorite pair of high tops or low tops, and you’re good to go.
The difference with shoes and summer dresses is that it isn’t a one-trainer-fits-all situation. With different dress styles, colors, fabrics and lengths, the shoes you choose to wear need to be carefully selected to achieve the best and most put-together look.
What Color Shoes should you wear with Different Colored Dresses?
While the color of your shoes with dresses depends entirely on personal preference, whether you’re someone who likes to stand out and wear bold, clashing colors together or if you’re a fan of chic neutrals, there are some color combinations that will always work and never go out of style.
Best Shoes to Wear with Black Dresses
Pairing a black dress with black vegan shoes can give a mistrial and stylish vibe to your appearance while also looking sophisticated. Black is a timeless color, and black shoes are essential for every wardrobe. With black dresses, you can also wear contrasting white sneakers if you want your footwear to pop or neon-colour shoes for a funky edge.
Best Shoes to Wear with White Dresses
The beauty of white dresses is that you have the freedom to wear any color footwear you want. A pair of crisp white vegan shoes paired with a white dress is a clean and fashionable look that screams summertime is here. Grey and black monochrome style shoes also offer a chic look that contrasts well with white dresses, especially when paired with darker accessories such as a black or grey bag and some dark sunglasses.
Best Shoes to Wear with Red Dresses
For red dresses, beige or blush shoes work exceptionally well as it helps to make the red dress stand out. Of course, bright white shoes will pair well with red dresses and can give the look a fresh and youthful appeal. You could also wear white sneakers with red accents for a more cohesive look.
Best Shoes to Wear with Navy Dresses
Navy is a surprisingly versatile color that can be worn with many other hues. Once again, you can’t go wrong with a pair of classic white shoes. But, to mix it up and add an interesting pop of color, some neon pink vegan shoes will create a contrasting yet complementary feminine edge. You could also wear shoes with pale blue accents for a smooth look that can help brighten up a dark dress for the summer.
What Shoes to Wear with Patterned Dresses
With patterned dresses, a pair of simple white, nude or black shoes, like those in our LØCI ORIGIN collection, will keep the focus on the dress while still giving it a luxurious look and feel. You could also match the color of your shoes with a color within the patterned dress for a seamless flow. Or, for the ultimate spring and summer look, if you’re wearing a floral dress, choose a subtle floral trainer design.
What Shoes to Wear with Mini Dresses
For mini dresses, a pair of low-top shoes are best as these will make it look as though your legs are never-ending. However, high tops or baseball-style shoes can also work very well if you want a more casually cool look.
What Shoes to Wear with Maxi Dresses
With maxi dresses, some chunky shoes or high-top shoes work well as they can match the drama of a longer dress. Pairing larger style shoes with some bolder accessories, too, like a statement bag and a large belt, will instantly give you a stand-out summer outfit that everyone will admire.
To choose the perfect pair of shoes for your summer dress, check out our full range of stylish and conscious women’s vegan shoes.
Introducing Charlie Rudkin-Wilson, a creative, recycling plastic waste into beautiful purposeful objects to minimise our communities environmental impact in a fun and colourful way.
How would you describe your story?
The journey probably started in 2017/2018. I used to have a slightly different business where I did consulting for TV and film productions. So I'd go in and make them sustainable in line with baftas accreditation.
I also used to have a project where we were going to make the most sustainable street in the UK, we were crowdfunding for that. So I guess it started years ago with this journey and then all of that stopped overnight with Covid.
I had to completely rethink and redo everything basically, because none of my other businesses and projects existed anymore. I started just doing deliveries for vegetables with a local veg company- for vulnerable people that couldn't get out.
I then started doing refills and delivering those and then fast forward, it was probably only eight weeks that I cycled past what is now my shop. I impulsively called the landlord, viewed it the next day and I signed the contract maybe the day after- I had a refill shop.
With the lockdowns easing, people didn't really have the time to do slow shopping anymore and sales dropped off. With this, I realised it was the perfect opportunity for me to go back to my main project, which is what I really wanted to do, which was recycling. So, we crowdfunded for that and then I started the recycling plastics journey in September.
What inspired you to start MÜLL?
The idea for Müll, which translates to rubbish, came to me in 2017 when I was staying with my mum in Switzerland. I had, like, your classic mental breakdown. I decided to give up my corporate job and soon this sustainable journey. Obviously, at the time, I had no idea what that meant.
What challenges did you face during the startup of MÜLL?
That would definitely be the shredder. I bought the pieces but it could have arrived fully made. I just thought if I don't know how to take it apart and put it together and if it breaks, it would be tough to get that sorted as I wouldn’t know how the machine worked. I figured it made sense for me to build it.
When all my machines arrived and what I could not have predicted was the effect the heat wave at the time would have. Now I know that if it's hot, metal expands so you can't build machines in the middle of a heatwave- all the metals expanded and pieces didn’t fit.
I had to get to the shop at 5 am and I used the fridge next door and had all my metal pieces in there overnight. I would try to fit it all together whilst the metal was still cold. That was definitely my biggest challenge.
I would love to go into more detail about the plastic waste conversion process! What is the process like converting plastic waste into everyday products?
This is probably one of the craziest things- about how straightforward the process is. It’s quite simple, in fact much more effort goes into shipping plastic overseas than converting it with the recycling process like mine.
It starts off with the community bringing their plastic either to our shop directly or through the drop off points throughout South East london. We recycle type 2 plastics which include softer plastics you can probably squeeze like bottle caps. We also recycle type 5 plastic which is a bit more smoother like yoghurt, butter packaging, takeaway boxes, and even CD/ DVD cases.
Once we get these plastics, the next process is to clean and leave to soak if they have not already arrived cleaned. Once it’s dry, it all runs through the shredder. Then I put it in the injection machine, it takes about nine minutes to melt, and then it’s injected into the mold - and there it’s done. So, it’s really just wash, shred, melt, inject, done!
I would love to know more about MÜLL! Since your opening, how many single use plastic items have you been able to convert?
So far, I’ve recycled around 138 kg of plastics which is quite a bit, keeping in mind one yoghurt packaging is 11 grams. We’ve made over a thousand things at this stage. But that's about to go up drastically now that we're in the flow of things, like I made more than a hundred things last week.
What are some of the different materials you’ve been able to make from these single use plastic items you receive?
With the molds we currently have, we can make combs, a soap dish, a candle holder and coaster. Today, I'm making door handles. But the thing I’m most excited about is our new creation, the statement ring. They’re beautiful, they really show how creative we can get with waste, and prove plastic isn’t a material that ever be discarded.
The ZigZag soap dish is currently our number seller, but I have a feeling the ring will be a big hit. We only launched these 2 weeks ago. And I couldn’t be more proud of the design, they’re truly stunning.
What do you see yourself working on/ with in the coming years?
The plan is to grow the recycling. Currently, the phase we are in, I see as our learning phase. I would say our past ten months have been like our A levels- about getting to grips with how the machines work and so on.
Then, I would say the next 12 months are like our degree- getting this recycling process slick, really understanding volumes, and getting more products out there. Once we've got the next 12 months down, we want to open recycling hubs all over the UK in all the major cities.
Do you have any advice for people who want to make a difference/ mark in their community?
The biggest problem at the moment is that many refill shops and sustainable brands are closing down. The best advice, or the thing that's going to have the biggest impact in your community is actually supporting the businesses that are trying to make a difference.
For example, if a refill shop closes down, that's the whole community that no longer has access to that specific refill shop and this in turn will guarantee that single-use plastic consumption will continue. Once businesses like these shut down, then we're just going backwards really.
View Charlie Rudkin-Wilson’s work at: https://mull-club.co.uk/
Meet Jessica Bejarano, a trailblazing symphony conductor, Founder and Music Director of the San Francisco Philharmonic, and an accomplished musician recognized for breaking barriers in her field. Her talent has been featured on national television and she is set to release her first bilingual children's book in Winter 2024.
Credit: Spud Hilton
How would you describe your story?
My story is one of perseverance, passion and of breaking barriers! My story is one to inspire, motivate and uplift people of ALL walks of life through the power of music making and sharing of our lives.
What inspired you to start the San Francisco Philharmonic?
As a queer woman of color, growing up in the projects of East Los Angeles, there was no expectation or space for a person like me to exist in the orchestral world easily. As a patron of the arts, musician in the orchestra or conductor on the podium I wanted to create a high caliber orchestra that truly embodied diversity AND also welcomed it unconditionally.
Credit: Spud Hilton
What challenges did you face during the startup of the San Francisco Philharmonic?
The financial side of starting an orchestra is huge! The operational fees are high, especially in a city like San Francisco. In just three years the orchestra has grown in size, in audience base and in its musicianship - these are great challenges, challenges that I welcome!
From performing with American legendary rock band Journey, to becoming the first woman in history to guest conduct the American Youth Symphony in LosAngeles, I must ask, how did you feel when you heard the news of your invitation to guest conduct the American Youth Symphony? What was the experience like?
It was an honor! It was like coming back full circle to guest conduct in the city that I grew up in. The first time I listened to classical music was my first year in college. I didn’t grow up as a conductor, or listening to the symphony, ballet or opera. So to come back to LA as an accomplished conductor was humbling and a moment to reflect and appreciate all that I have experienced. The American Youth Symphony is an incredible institution/orchestra! It was a life experience I will never forget!
Credit: Spud Hilton
I can see from your bio on the SF Philharmonic that you will be publishing your first bilingual children’s book in the Winter of 2024. This is absolutely exciting news! What inspired you to want to take up such a task?
The book company actually saw me guest conduct the American Youth Symphony - they were in the audience and thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to write a children’s book about her becoming a conductor?” When they reached out to me and described the impact it would have on children, I was all about it! For me my career is not just about music - it’s about standing in a space and showcasing to children, POC’s, women that you too can exist and thrive here!
Do you see yourself working with/on other books/ events in the coming years? Is there a plan for the future of the San Francisco Philharmonic?
Yes, we have a lot of momentum and drive to forge ahead! We have partnered with Tecate, Journey and as of late we are working with electronica and rap artists to merge two arts forms into one cool experience. The plan for San Francisco Philharmonic is to continue to create space for ALL and to also support my musicians.
Do you have any advice for people who want to make a difference/ mark in their community?
Whatever you decide to do in life, make sure you are passionate about it!
View SF Philharmonic here: https://www.sfphil.org/
What is Vegan Leather?
Vegan shoes are making a splash in the sneaker industry, with numerous style icons flexing their new easy-on-the-environment footwear. But what exactly is vegan leather, and why is it so great? In this guide, we’ll dive into what materials vegan leather is made from, why you might want to choose vegan leather and different ways to clean it too! 
How is Vegan Leather Made?
Vegan leather, or faux leather as it it often referred to, is a material that looks, feels and behaves like leather but is made without harming any animals in the process. A lot of vegan leather is made from either polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as these plastic polymers have a wrinkled texture that looks very similar to real leather.
However, some vegan leather for shoes can also be made using more natural materials, such as recycled plastic and cork, pineapple leaves, apple peels, and maize husk to make it a more eco-friendly product.
At LØCI, all collections such as our black vegan sneakers range features shoes created using maize husk and recycled ocean plastic bottles, along with cork for insoles that mould perfectly, renewable natural rubber for durable soles and bamboo lining.
Our unique Maize sneaker collection is changing the game when it comes to style and purpose, as it’s 100% vegan leather. Made from an innovative combination of 50% maize waste and recycled textiles, we’re ditching the animal hide without compromising on aesthetics. To create our maize shoes, we break down glucose from the plant into monomers which then turn into polymers, making our very own superpower fabric. Not only is this material stronger than traditional hide, but it’s also water-resistant and easy to clean. So you won’t have any problems keeping them in perfect condition.
Benefits of Vegan Leather
So, what makes vegan leather so amazing? Below are some of the top benefits that’ll make you want to ditch your current leather sneakers immediately and switch to vegan:
Vegan leather is infinitely better for the animals.
It produces less carbon dioxide as it cuts out cattle and animal farming.
Vegan leather that uses natural materials can even absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
Uses less water than traditional leather.
It has a unique finish that’s a premium material all of its own.
Vegan leather footwear is known for being much easier to break in - no more sore feet!
Vegan leather is a beautiful fashion statement that shows you’re compassionate and care about all living creatures.
How to Clean Vegan Leather
There’s nothing more frustrating than stained or dirty shoes ruining your outfit. Just one mark on a pair of white vegan sneakers can bring the whole look down. Luckily, vegan leather sneakers are very easy to clean and can be restored to their former glory in no time - especially with our natural shoe cleaning kit.
First of all, to keep your vegan shoes looking fresh for as long as possible, we’d recommend protecting them by applying a protective spray and using a soft brush to work the product into the material. Leave the sneakers overnight for the protection to sink in, and you’ll be able to enjoy your favourite sneakers for much longer.
To keep your vegan shoes in tip-top condition, you should ideally clean them once a month. Not only will this keep them looking their best but properly cared for shoes will last longer too.
Dilute a cleaning solution in cold water. This can be the solution in our kit or some mild washing-up liquid.
Use a brush to gently remove any dirt and grime.
If your sneakers have a few stubborn stains that weren’t removed during the initial clean, spray the cleaning solution directly on the stains and then scrub them with the brush to draw out the staining.
When your sneakers are looking bright and clean again, wipe down any residue with a microfibre cloth and leave them to dry.
Is Vegan Leather Durable and Long Lasting?
Absolutely! It’s a very common misconception that vegan leather is weak and flimsy and will fall apart after just a few wears. The reality is, these days, vegan leather can be just as long-lasting and durable as real leather. In fact, the shoes in our Maize range are as strong and resistant as traditional leather, making them the perfect pair for any adventure while also reducing environmental deforestation. Win!
As long as you care for your vegan footwear properly, your sneakers will carry you through the day in style.
Want to find out more about plant-based leather shoes? Check out our plant-based leather guide.
You can take a look at our best-selling and highly durable collection of LØCI Origin sneakers, or our vibrant range of Neon sneakers, both made with recycled materials for a superior shoe that’s designed to withstand everyday use while still looking ultra-stylish.
